Business and Marketing Strategy, AI and Data Analytics

Why Amazon Will Continue to Dominate

December 14, 2018 By Tiffany Sunday

On April 20, I had the opportunity to hear Jeff Bezos, Founder and CEO of Amazon, speak at Southern Methodist University Bush Library lecture series.

Jeff Bezos is patient.

Somewhere along the way, possibly during childhood, he decided to take the long view. He made a commitment to remain focused. To hold the line, regardless of what investors thought of his strategies or what Wall Street analysts wrote in their reports.

His focus is singular.

Relaxed, Bezos chatted about various topics while sprinkling tips and advice in conversation. When talking about entrepreneurship, he stated, “In the future, if you are going to do anything new or innovative you will be miss understood.”

The word innovation invokes thoughts of new products, services, and technological software. Yet, taking a routine practice or process and completely rearranging the system is innovation. Think Henry Ford and the assembly line.

At the core of innovation is thinking differently and envisioning the future.

Bezos is always focused on two things – customers and innovation grounded in his determination to take the long view of the business.

Bezos sits in the driver’s seat, observes the road ahead. He looks into the future to consider possible opportunities, potential roadblocks and notes upcoming changes in the landscape.

For any business to remain sustainable, leaders must keep their eye on the road instead of staring down at the dashboard. Refreshing sales and ROI on Salesforce or NetSuite, in an obsessive habit, does not drive innovation, especially if your mind is buried in the numbers or data.

Bezos, looks at the dashboard from time to time, keeping an eye on the process of the business. He cares about developing long-term strategies as indicated by his 2-pizza memo styled meetings. Time is given for everyone to read the memo; this action ensures an informed and educated discussion during each meeting.

Developing good strategy is difficult. It is the non-sexy side of business and requires everyone involved giving their full attention. Exceptional strategy requires asking “why” not the surface “why” which occurs during fun Friday meetings.

The “why” I am writing about is posing difficult questions, at times soul-searching answers about the business now and in the future.

These meetings require individuals to hold two competing thoughts in their mind at the same time. Exceptional strategy requires small teams comprised of different thinkers, visionaries, and professionals who can bring a different perspective to the discussion.

To generate innovative strategy, that will make a profound impact in the future, requires being on the outside of herd mentality. To look away from the dashboard, daydream, ponder why not? and to imagine what is possible on the road ahead.

Last week, I spoke with a tech recruiter who said, “most of the companies I work with are focused on what’s in front of them, the numbers and how they can reach the numbers.” Similar to the obsession with our mobile devices, that we check on average 2,634 times a day, our dashboards can be addicting, requiring a constant need to refresh.

Bezos is looking out the window. My guess is he is driving an old Ford pickup similar to what his grandfather owned in South Texas.

He’s looking into the future, thinking about Amazon’s customers, thinking how can he help them make a better purchase decision.

With advancing of AI and automation, allocating time for difficult strategy work is crucial. Companies staring down at the dashboard will either be purchased by Amazon or become obsolete.

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work Part 1

November 17, 2018 By Tiffany Sunday Leave a Comment

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work Part 1

Six years ago, this month I started researching and analyzing the impacts of big data, predictive analytics on employment from higher ed to how professionals would companies and professionals would incorporate advanced technologies into their jobs.

During this time, my focus has shifted to artificial intelligence, automation, and quantum computing. The majority of the information continues to focus on the tactical aspects of the future of work, how many employees will need to be reskilled, or who will lose their job, or how will AI changed the metrics for measuring every part of an employee’s day.

Before, developing the initiative checklist, a strategic overview of how all these changes will radically transform how we perform our jobs must be done first. To develop a solid, durable strategy for the future, viewing the landscape from the top of the forest first must occur before changing the underneath landscape or individual trees.

Without a doubt, the current liner employment model is evolving into a structure shaped like a sphere. From my research, within the next 5 – 10 years middle management will most likely become obsolete once AI systems are fully integrated into TSMs (talent management systems).

Imagine a digital beehive, where workers come and go based on the project work that needs to be performed. System thinkers (professionals who possess both creative thinking and strategic skills and talents) will oversee the process, managing both the machine and the human element.

I also believe as AI is used from an HR perspective to measure every part of employee’s day, companies will hire professionals for incremental granular work. Think gig workers sitting at their computers, moving from one tactical task to the next.

Pay will be determined by hours worked or project task completed. Similar to how Amazon pays royalties on music and books read through Prime Accounts.

We are at the beginning of the next phase. When I wrote You Posted What!? in 2014, about how big data, predictive analytics, and recruiting startups were disrupting both higher education and how candidates found jobs.

The disruptions occurring are just the tip of the iceberg. Much of what was discussed in the book, has come to pass.

The future of work, we are designing today, must be developed with a new viewpoint instead of using an old mindset to build something new for the future.

Announcing the Release of How Dyslexics Will Rule the Future by Tiffany Sunday

October 29, 2018 By Tiffany Sunday Leave a Comment

Creativity is the Last Competitive Edge Against the Machines

Artificial intelligence and automation are transforming every aspect of our world. Tiffany Sunday’s, ground-breaking new book, How Dyslexics Will Rule the Future, asserts the last competitive edge against the machines is human creativity.

In the book, Sunday examines the impact of artificial intelligence and automation on employment, the global economy, and society. Sunday condenses research and dozens of interviews into a convincing narrative about the future of work and new job opportunities for creative, problem-solving professionals.

Advanced digital systems and platforms are creating a homogenous mindset. Companies are seeking professionals, who are dyslexic and neurodiverse, to utilize their natural problem-solving, spatial reasoning and pattern finding abilities. Many of the challenges encountered by individuals who think differently are mitigated by software applications and tech devices designed to assist with reading and writing. With all of these advances in technology, bias and obsolete perceptions remain in the workplace.

Sunday challenges readers to embrace a paradigm shift in a new way of thinking about neurodiversity and creativity while shattering the definition of literacy.

Filled with thought-provoking insights about AI and automation, workplace strategies, and lifestyle insights, this book is a must-read for dyslexic professionals, especially HR teams and hiring managers.

Tiffany Sunday Featured Interview on the Codpast

August 10, 2018 By Tiffany Sunday Leave a Comment

This past April, I spoke at the British Dyslexia Association International Conference and met Sean Douglas the creator of The Codpast. Sean and I discussed how the rapid acceleration of advanced technologies are creating new job opportunities for dyslexics.

The video created by Sean, Bitzy, and the CodPast team is amazing and summaries many aspects of my new book How Dyslexics Will Rule the Future.

Again, a million thanks to Sean, Bitzy and the CodPast team!

Tiffany Sunday Speaking at 2018 British Dyslexia Association Conference in Telford, U.K. on April 14

March 28, 2018 By Tiffany Sunday

Tiffany Sunday is presenting at the 2018 British Dyslexia Association International Conference in Telford, U.K. on Saturday, April 14, 2018.

The title of her presentation is How Dyslexics Will Rule the Future.

Tiffany will discuss the five strengths of dyslexia, how advanced technologies are creating new employment opportunities and career strategies for dyslexic students, professionals, and corporate human resource managers.

Her talk is based on Tiffany’s upcoming new book How Dyslexics Will Rule the Future due out in Summer of 2018.

Tiffany frequently speaks at national conferences and conducts corporate workshops.

Why October Dyslexia Awareness Month is Important

October 11, 2017 By Tiffany Sunday Leave a Comment

Dyslexia is invisible.

We cannot see how the unique wiring impacts each individual nor can we see the brilliance that lies beneath the surface of misspelled words, word retrieval misfires, and slow reading times.

The invisibility creates a false sense of reality. On the surface, a student’s learning abilities may appear to be sufficient, when in fact the student is struggling in every class. The student becomes increasing disengaged as they do not understand the material given to them nor can they complete their class assignments.

Being behind your peers, unable to read, write or spell, I believe is one of the most stressful feelings you can have as a student. We receive questions and inquires on why our work is not completed. We don’t know why; therefore, we are unable to provide an answer which only creates more frustration.

I remember, as if it was yesterday, being in second grade overwhelmed and frustrated. I was two grade levels behind my peers and could barely spell the simplest of words. My handwriting was all over the page which compounded the problem. Even to this day, I can recall the emotions I felt and how I knew at a gut level, something was wrong.

In third grade, my teacher was a graduate student obtaining her dyslexia/reading specialist certificate. She recommended that I be tested for dyslexia. Finally, a name was given to my frustrations. I was relieved to know it was not my fault.

Teachers and educators can profoundly change their students’ lives in many ways. Every time, I write and speak on the topic of dyslexia, I mention to two teachers who forever changed my life – Mrs. King and Dr. Wakefield. They understood the importance of testing students for dyslexia.

They Understood that Awareness is Everything for a Dyslexic Student.

For millions of students and adults who are still undiagnosed, awareness is the difference between receiving help or not. The difference between gaining the essential intervention that can help them achieve their full potential or a lifetime of frustration without ever knowing why.

Only when we have awareness can we solve a problem or assist a student who needs intervention and accommodations. Without awareness and testing, students will continue to encounter learning challenges.

Dyslexia is unique in that it is invisible, brilliant, and frustrating all at the same time. Digital tools designed for individuals with dyslexia help reduce many of the language processing frustrations we encounter every day. I think about how much spell check has changed my life and provided an independence from constantly asking peers how to spell words.

Today, we have handheld devices that can read to us, check the dictionary meaning and scan notes. We have access to multiple software programs that perform a range of tasks from checking for dyslexia mistakes to the audio dictation of reports, emails, and digital messages. Each day new software and technologies are launched designed to help us.

We must have awareness first, testing second for progress to occur.

Only then, can these amazing technologies be used to their full potential and reduce the learning challenges encountered by dyslexics. October is Dyslexia Awareness Month in the United States. Each and every day I work to increase the awareness, ensure all students are tested and receive the accommodations they need to reach their full potential.

This blog post also appeared on Scanning Pens.com website.